Um dos temas da entrevista de Pablo na zona mista do Maracanã, após a vitória do Flamengo sobre o Cuiabápor 2 a 0, foi Paulo Sousa e a transição para o comando de Dorival Júnior. O zagueiro, então, admitiu que o trabalho do português não deu certo e ressaltou que o elenco, assim como fez com Paulo, já tenta ajudar o novo treinador, que chegou há menos de uma semana.
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> ATUAÇÕES: trio se destaca e leva a maior nota em vitória do Fla
– São situações que a gente não consegue controlar mesmo. Com o trabalho que eu já conhecia do Paulo, trabalho que eu confio muito, mas que não deu certo. O futebol tem dessas, vários elencos já foram feitos com muita qualidade e não deram certo. Mas é vida que segue, o Flamengo continua, estamos aqui para ajudar ao máximo quem chega – disse Pablo.
– O Dorival chegou agora e vamos tentar ajudá-lo da melhor forma possível, assim como tentamos ajudar o Paulo, porque o Flamengo é muito grande, é uma equipe que não merece estar onde está, pressionada com tudo que aconteceu anteriormente. Então, vamos fazer o máximo possível para que a gente possa ajudar o Dorival a implementar seu estilo de jogo e, automaticamente, ter as vitórias – completou o zagueiro.
> Veja e simule a tabela do Brasileirão
Agora, o Flamengo vira a chave para enfrentar o Atlético-MG, às 16h do próximo domingo, no Mineirão, pela 13ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileirão. Pablo projetou o confronto e mostrou que não espera encontrar facilidade, mesmo com a má fase do Galo, que não vence há quatro jogos.
– Vai ser um clássico, vai ser um jogo difícil. Temos que pensar nas dificuldades que vão ter nesse jogo de uma forma ampla porque vai ser muito difícil, e esses três pontos vão ser de tamanha importância para a gente continuar o nosso campeonato. Infelizmente, tivemos derrotas que nos prejudicaram muito. Então, precisamos de três em três pontos pensar em vencer para que a gente consiga subir cada vez mais na tabela – destacou Pablo.
“I understand the need to try and play in slightly inclement weather to try and get a result. But we overstepped that mark in this game.”
Danyal Rasool24-Oct-20222:47
Houghton: ‘I don’t think we should have bowled even one ball’
Zimbabwe coach Dave Houghton was fiercely critical of the decision to carry on with his side’s game against South Africa even as the rain in Hobart grew heavier, saying he didn’t believe the “conditions were right to play”, and that Zimbabwe “shouldn’t have bowled a ball”.Related
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As it happened – South Africa vs Zimbabwe in Hobart
Rain halted Monday’s game in Hobart on multiple occasions, before it was finally called off with South Africa on the verge of victory. South Africa needed a further 13 runs to win with all ten wickets in hand and 24 balls to go, but the innings hadn’t yet reached the five-over mark, the mandatory cut-off for a game to produce a result. During the chase, Zimbabwe’s bowlers and fielders complained several times about the wet outfield as the rain grew steadily heavier. Even when fast bowler Richard Ngarava slipped and had to be taken off injured, the umpires kept the players on.It was a decision that left Houghton furious. “He’s lying in the changing room with a bunch of ice strapped to his ankle,” Houghton said. “Obviously we’re not too happy about the fact he’s not in a great space for bowling at the moment. We’ll have to assess it in the next day or so.”I thought the rain had got so heavy it was ridiculous. Most of the evening or nighttime, it was misty. But it got to the stage where we could actually hear it thumping on the rooftop in the dugout. To me, that’s no longer drizzle; that’s time to get off the field. The field was wet when we started and when South Africa fielded. They were difficult conditions for both sides but it just got more and more wet as we bowled. When your keeper’s sliding trying to move down the leg side standing up to the spinners, it’s too wet. I don’t think the conditions were right to carry on playing.”Richard Ngarava had to leave the field after taking a tumble•AFP/Getty Images
ESPNcricinfo understands the entire Zimbabwe unit were unhappy at what they considered were dangerous conditions, and believed higher-profile teams wouldn’t have been put in that position. While Houghton declined to comment publicly on whether he thought the umpires would have made the same decision if the roles had been reversed, he was emphatic in his disagreement with the call.”I understand the need to try and get these games on for the public and for TV.” he said. “I understand the need to try and play in slightly inclement weather to try and get a result. But we overstepped that mark in this game. The umpires are the guys making those decisions in the middle and they seemed to think it was fit to play. I disagree with them. But there’s not much I can do off the field.”After Ngarava’s injury, Zimbabwe turned to spin rather than risk their premier pace bowlers, with Sikandar Raza bowling the third over. But when Sean Williams was handed the ball for the fourth over, Houghton revealed Williams thought enough was enough.”Craig [Ervine, Zimbabwe’s captain] and Raza had had a word with the umpires and asked “what do you constitute as rain because we’re getting quite wet here?” Eventually Sean Williams said just as he was about to start bowling he didn’t think he could bowl. It was too wet. And then they brought us off.”South Africa coach Mark Boucher, meanwhile, suggested that the situation of the game may have played a part in Zimbabwe’s reluctance to carry on. “If Zimbabwe were in our position they would have wanted to carry on playing,” he said. “We bowled with a ball that was quite wet as well. We were in a very good position. You walk away from this game thinking we were hard done by. We are not there to make the calls, that’s what officials do and officials made the call and we’ve got to live with their decisions.”The abandonment leaves South Africa and Zimbabwe with one point each, putting South Africa under early pressure in a group where, on paper, they’re expected to compete for two available semi-finals slots with India and Pakistan. On a frigid night in Hobart, there was plenty of heat from both coaches as an incensed Zimbabwe fumed at an injury to a key fast bowler while South Africa seethed at a win that, not for the first time at a World Cup, was denied to them by rain.
كشف عماد النحاس، المدير الفني المؤقت للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، عن تفاصيل حديثه مع محمود الخطيب، رئيس النادي بعد التتويج ببطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
وقال عماد النحاس، عبر قناة الأهلي: “انتهاء مهمتي مع الأهلي؟ لم نتحدث في أي شيء بعد، فقد كنا خلال الفترة الماضية نركّز بشكل أكبر على الدوري، وجودي في النادي شرف كبير لي، وقد نُفّذ كل ما طُلِب مني”.
وتابع: ” أتمنى أن أظل متواجدًا في هذا الكيان، فهو بيتي، وأنا رهن إشارة النادي في أي وقت، وفي أي مكان، وتحت أي مسؤولية ونحن نقدم أقل ما يمكن تقديمه لهذا الصرح ولم يحدث حوار بيني وبين الكابتن محمود الخطيب أثناء تسليم درع الدوري، كانت مجرد تهنئة فقط”.
طالع.. الأهلي عن احتفال بيراميدز بلقب الدوري: مبروك للجميع.. وهذا موقف الصفقات
وأكمل: “فريق فاركو قدّم موسمًا جيدًا، لم تكن عليه ضغوط كبيرة، ويمتاز بالهدوء والاستقرار الفني وقدّم دورًا أول محترمًا جدًا، وكان كل تركيزنا أن نحقق الفوز في اللقاء”.
واستمر:” جلست مع علي معلول وتحدثت معه، وقلت له إنني مررت بنفس الظروف، بل إن الوضع في وقتي كان أصعب بعض الشيء ربما لأننا نلعب مباريات متقاربة، وهناك ضغط كبير في جدول المباريات”.
وأضاف: “أنا من نوعية المدربين الذين يفضلون تثبيت التشكيل قدر الإمكان وقلت له أنت لاعب كبير، صنعت اسمًا وتاريخًا عظيمًا، ومهما حدث ستظل جزءًا من تاريخ هذا النادي، وهذا ناديك وبلدك حاول أن تُظهر السعادة على وجهك”.
واستكمل: “علي معلول لاعب يريد دائمًا المشاركة ويشعر بحب الجماهير له وأخبرته أنه دائمًا ضمن أولويات الجهاز الفني وقد شارك اليوم بعد حالة الطرد أمام فاركو، وشارك في أصعب اللحظات بمباراة البنك الأهلي، وقلت له أنت تشارك من أجل عرضية واحدة فقط قد تكون سببًا في فوزنا بالمباراة، والبعض يرى أن الوقت كان قليلًا، ولكن قيمة اللاعب الكبير لا تقاس بالوقت، بل بتأثيره في الملعب، ومساعدته لزملائه، والعكس”.
وأتم: “على المستوى الشخصي، أخبرته أنني أحبه، وأنه قدوة لابني لأنه يلعب في نفس مركزه كظهير أيسر أتمنى أن يكون سعيدًا، وما سيحدث لاحقًا لا يعلمه إلا الله”.
Let’s all just take a moment to breathe. At Aston Villa, Liverpool succumbed to their second 2-2 draw in three Premier League matches but also moved eight points clear at the top of the table, albeit with Arsenal holding a game in hand.
Recent performances have cast a blanket of uncertainty over the red of Merseyside, but Arne Slot’s side are well worth their table-topping position and will continue to fight tooth and nail for the title over the next few months.
Liverpool managerArneSlotbefore the match
The caveat is that Liverpool face Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday before welcoming dangerous Newcastle United to Anfield.
But Arsenal are beset with a mountain of injury issues and face their own tough run in the next few weeks. Liverpool will endure. And then, restore their fluency, their verve.
Liverpool vs Arsenal – Upcoming PL Fixtures
Liverpool (26G – 61P)
Arsenal (25G – 53P)
Man City (A)
West Ham (H)
Newcastle (H)
Nott’m Forest (A)
Southampton (H)
Man United (A)
Everton (H)
Chelsea (H)
Fulham (A)
Fulham (H)
However, certain questions need to be raised, with Darwin Nunez’s role in this all-important campaign raising important questions.
Darwin Nunez misses the mark – again
There’s only so much a fan can take. Energy, tenacity, drive, chaos. Nunez embodies it all – all pertaining to the good and the bad, of course.
Darwin Nunez
Nunez was introduced in the second half and failed to notch a goal, stretching his run to 35 matches in all competitions this term with just six goals to his name.
Having played only 25 minutes, it shouldn’t feel like the burden of Liverpool’s dropped points at Villa Park lay on his shoulders, but the 25-year-old was thwarted by the charging Emi Martinez when played through and, more agonisingly, skewed a glorious open goal opportunity when deftly played in by Dominik Szoboszlai.
Social media has been awash with the Uruguay striker’s latest blunder, and perhaps the most telling part was Slot’s reaction, turning to the assistant referee and questioning if his player was offside.
It didn’t matter, for Nunez had missed a simple finish to make it 3-2 to Liverpool, building on the momentum from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s rifled finish to restore parity.
Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr begged the question of Nunez’s availability in January and transfer authority Fabrizio Romano confirmed that his sale was a genuine possibility, but FSG ultimately didn’t want to leave title-chasing Liverpool short at the season’s midpoint.
Nunez’s own misfiring has propagated the idea that he’s not fit for purpose over three campaigns now. It’s clear that Slot needs to cut ties with his exciting and infuriating player – sadly, it hasn’t worked out.
He’s not the only striker to have let his team down. Diogo Jota has endured another injury-hit season, and while he’s a first-class finisher, this certainly wasn’t the case against Unai Emery’s men.
Why Slot must boldly drop Diogo Jota
Last season, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said that Jota is Liverpool’s best-ever goalscorer in the Premier League “in terms of pure finishing.”
Big claim, but not without substance. As per FBref, Jota ranked among the top 1% of Premier League forwards in 2023/24 for goals scored (0.79) per 90.
Diogo Jota in action for Liverpool
He’s not enjoyed the same level of potency under Slot’s wing, missing matches due to injury once again. Still, eight goals from 24 matches in all competitions is hardly shameful, but he’s not playing with his usual style at the moment.
Uncharacteristically, Jota summed up Liverpool’s night as he was played through against a gappy Villan backline and sliced so wide that the shot almost went out for a throw-in. Cue the jeers.
Contrasted with the cool composure and smart running of Ollie Watkins, Liverpool’s lack of a top central frontman was illustrated. The England star laid the ball off smartly, darted into space, thundered past Alisson with a well-timed header. The gaps emerged and he snatched his chance greedily.
Nunez did not. Jota did not. Both forwards claimed more attractive chances but failed to make them count, and with Cody Gakpo now set to return from an injury sustained at Goodison Park, Slot needs to make the change.
Chalkboard
Jota might have claimed the assist for Salah’s goal but he didn’t lead the line with the desired confidence. GOAL’s Gill Clark echoed this, branding the Portugal international with a 5/10 match score.
Jota was even branded “dreadful” by The Athletic correspondent James Pearce after his mishap, adding fuel to the fire that Salah – who of course bagged his goal and placed the assist for Trent’s important equaliser – is something of a one-man frontline at times.
Cody Gakpo celebrates for Liverpool
While it’s hard to advocate Luis Diaz as being the perfect number nine solution, he does bring fluency to Liverpool’s frontline and facilitates Gakpo and Salah’s successes.
Based on the evidence of this frustrating contest, the Colombian has graduated to Liverpool’s first-choice at centre-forward and must be picked as such against a Man City side that is always going to be dangerous.
Diogo Jota in action for Liverpool
It’s important to issue a reminder that Liverpool’s slide in defensive security is every bit as concerning as the profligacy up front. Three clean sheets from 13 Premier League matches is a far cry from Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate’s imperious early form.
It’s not the be-all and end-all. This was a difficult fixture and Liverpool still hold a commanding lead at the top of the table. That said, Slot needs to restore Liverpool’s snap at the top of the ship because, at the moment, things are not looking balanced with Nunez and Jota struggling.
All told, there are problems across the board – but, all the same, Liverpool are eight points clear at the summit as they gear up to race down the home stretch.
Slot is a top-class manager and will be confident in fixing the current out-of-kilter levels. However, he might need to make a few changes, with Jota and Nunez proving at Villa Park that they don’t deserve starting berths against Pep Guardiola’s outfit.
Forget Szoboszlai: Liverpool "monster" is proving to be the next Gerrard
Arsenal are now targeting a Champions League defender for Mikel Arteta, and the Gunners are set for sit-down talks with his entourage soon as they schedule a transfer meeting.
Arsenal's summer transfer plans explained
The north Londoners have an outside chance of pipping Liverpool to the Premier League title at best, with last weekend all but ending their hopes of winning a first domestic top flight crown in 21 years.
Contact made as Motta asks Juventus to sign "world class" Arsenal player
The Italian personally wants him in Turin.
2 ByEmilio Galantini Feb 26, 2025
Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium, combined with Liverpool’s win against Man City at the Etihad, means Arne Slot’s side now have one hand on this year’s Premier League winner’s medals.
Arsenal’s next five Premier League games
Date
Nottingham Forest (away)
Today
Man Utd (away)
March 9th
Chelsea (home)
March 16th
Fulham (home)
April 1st
Everton (away)
April 5th
The Gunners were hamstrung by recent long-term injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, leaving Arteta without a recognised centre-forward, while both Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are not expected back until March.
This situation has even prompted Arteta to utilise midfielder Mikel Merino as an emergency striking option, and while the Spaniard’s late brace helped Arsenal to a recent 2-0 win at Leicester City, he’s hardly a permanent solution up front.
Arsenal are targeting new strikers this summer to finally end their long search for a prolific target man. According to recent reports, the likes of Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins, Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, RB Leipzig ace Benjamin Sesko, Juventus’ Dušan Vlahović, Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres, Eintracht Frankfurt talisman Hugo Ekitiké and ex-Liverpool favourite Roberto Firmino are potential options for Arteta.
There are even suggestions that Arsenal are looking to sign two new strikers, rather than one big name, with Watkins and Sesko among Arteta’s top striker targets heading into the summer window.
However, the bulk of Arsenal’s transfer kitty won’t only be going on strikers. Kieran Tierney appears set to join Celtic on a free transfer, while uncertainty surrounds the future of Oleksandr Zinchenko after he was linked with a move away from the Emirates in January.
Olympique Lyonnais' MaxenceCaqueretin action with Arsenal's Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Martinelli
According to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, via Football Italia, Arteta’s side are considering Club Brugge left-back Maxim De Cuyper as a potential heir to the aforementioned duo.
Arsenal set for imminent meeting with Maxim De Cuyper's agents
The Belgium international has been a star player for Brugge this season, currently ranking as their second-best performer by average match rating in the Jupiler Pro League, according to WhoScored.
His performance are seemingly attracting attention from London, as Tuttosport write that Arsenal are set for talks with De Cuper’s agents “shortly”.
The 24-year-old has helped Brugge to the last 16 of the Champions League as well, where they recently caused a major upset by knocking Atalanta out in the play-offs, so he could be an astute option.
It is also stated that De Cuyper will be allowed to leave Brugge for a fee of around £21 million, making him a very affordable option for the left-hand side.
The defender has also averaged an impressive 2.6 key passes per 90 in the final third (WhoScored), indicating a real degree of creativity to his game.
Pakistan batter smashes 41 off 13 balls to give Sixers a late scare
Tristan Lavalette22-Dec-2022
Hayden Kerr smashed 32 off 20 balls to give Sydney Sixers some late impetus•Cricket Australia/Getty Images
Sydney Sixers survived a late onslaught from Asif Ali to thwart Hobart Hurricanes on a slow SCG surface and register their first victory of this BBL season.Rain delayed the start by an hour and reduced the match to 14 overs per side. There were some eyebrows raised when Sixers captain Moises Henriques elected to bat but it proved a masterstroke.Defending 138, Sixers’ bowlers relished returning to their favoured SCG as they stymied Hurricanes, who were never really in the hunt until Asif’s astonishing 41 off 13 balls almost snatched a remarkable late victory.Asif nearly conjures a miracle Hurricanes were dead and buried, needing 45 off 10 deliveries until Asif had other ideas. He proceeded to smash 22 runs off Hayden Kerr’s next four deliveries, with the last being a six off a full toss around waist height that should have been called a no-ball.Needing 23 off the final over, Hurricanes’ chances increased considerably when quick Naveen-ul-Haq bowled a wide on the first delivery and then he was smashed for a boundary by a red-hot Asif.Sixers’ players looked ashen-faced as their stunned fans sensed a massive meltdown. But Asif holed out on the next delivery to finally snuff out Hurricanes’ chances.O’Keefe relishes slow surface Left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe turned 38 earlier in the month, but he hasn’t lost his ability to frustrate batters. On an increasingly slow surface, O’Keefe proved a vital inclusion, having been omitted against Scorchers at the pace-friendly Optus Stadium.With canny bowling, O’Keefe put the brakes on Hurricanes’ high-octane top-order batters. He snared the key wicket of Ben McDermott in the fourth over and then returned in the eighth over at a crucial juncture.Hurricanes’ run rate had lifted to 12 an over as captain Matthew Wade eyed putting the foot down. But he was unable to break the shackles from O’Keefe, who bowled nine dot balls in his first 11 deliveries.A frustrated Wade holed out in the next over to spinner Todd Murphy and then kicked his bat as he trudged off in disgust.Mixed bag for Sixers’ batting line-up Sixers were keen to make amends after sloppy batting displays in losses to Strikers and Scorchers.After a topsy-turvy batting effort against Hurricanes, Sixers still have not had a batter score a half-century this season although they reached a competitive total due to strong bookends.Openers Josh Philippe and Kurtis Patterson finally fired with a 68-run opening partnership to get Sixers off to a flier. Patterson, who holds a Test average of 144 from two matches, was a revelation last season as an aggressive opener for champions Scorchers.After returning home to Sydney, Patterson made his first impact this season with a 25-ball 38 to lay a strong platform with Philippe. But their good work was undone after a collapse of 5 for 16 before Kerr hit an invaluable 32 from 20 balls at the death.Kerr, who made 42 against Scorchers, continues to make a compelling case to move up the order.Shadab makes amends after dropping a sitter Hurricanes were thrashed early with Wade using five different bowlers in as many overs in a desperate bid for a breakthrough.Their early woes were symbolised when spinner Shadab Khan dropped the simplest of return catches in the fifth over to reprieve Philippe.The wet ball may have given him an excuse for fumbling the skier but Shadab was keen to make amends.Shadab did exactly that when he came back in the eighth over and removed Philippe with a slow and wide delivery that was hit straight to long-off. It was gutsy bowling from Shadab, who was suddenly on a roll when he dismissed Henriques first ball with a spectacular diving return catch.It was reminiscent of his brilliant caught and bowled dismissal of Scorchers allrounder Aaron Hardie earlier in the week.Shadab’s efforts sparked a Sixers collapse with left-arm spinner Paddy Dooley, whose unorthodox bowling action has turned heads, continuing his breakout season with the wickets of Jordan Silk and Dan Christian.
Após duas derrotas seguidas, o Botafogo volta a campo nesta segunda-feira, às 20h, para encarar o RB Bragantino, no Nabi Abi Chedid. Em um momento de turbulência na temporada, Luís Castro tenta superar as ausências dos desfalques e fazer jogos competitivos antes da possível chegada dos reforços na janela deste mês.
+RB Bragantino x Botafogo: prováveis times, desfalques e onde assistir ao confronto pelo Brasileirão
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Com isso, a equipe terá desfalques importantes para medir forças com o Massa Bruta, em Bragança Paulista. Por outro lado, três jogadores estarão de volta entre os relacionados. Diante disso, o Lance! elencou cinco fatores importantes para o torcedor botafoguense observar no time diante da equipe paulista.
+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro
– Nível de competitividade:Na última vez em que o Glorioso esteve em campo, foi amplamente dominado pelo América-MG, pela Copa do Brasil. Em determinados momentos, a equipe não teve força para competir e viu o adversário construir o resultado com tranquilidade. Nesta segunda, mesmo fora de casa, Luís Castro precisa fazer com que o elenco faça um duelo equilibrado.
– Retorno Triplo:Entre os relacionados, tRês jogadores estarão de volta para ajudar a equipe. Entre eles, estão o zagueiro Victor Cuesta e o volante Luís Oyama. Os dois não puderam estar em campo contra o Coelho por já terem disputado a Copa do Brasil por outros times: Mirassol e Internacional, respectivamente. Além da dupla, Lucas Fernandes se recuperou de lesão e reforçará o grupo em Bragança.
– Inúmeros desfalques:Por outro lado, a lista de ausências é grande e ganhou mais alguns nomes. Carli e Chay estão suspensos após receberem o terceiro cartão amarelo contra o Fluminense. Diego Gonçalves voltou a sentir a posterior da coxa direita e também ficou de fora da lista de relacionados. Erisson e Lucas Piazon seguem com dores e ainda não irão retornar.
– Bolas aéreas defensivas:Contra o América-MG, o Botafogo sofreu com as bolas alçadas na área. Os três gols da equipe mineira foram construídos por meio de jogadas trabalhadas desta maneira, e em momento algum a defesa alvinegro conseguiu coibi-las. Diante do Massa Bruta, o desempenho terá que ser muito melhor para sair de campo com os três pontos.
– Atuação como visitante:Apesar da oscilação, o Alvinegro tem um bom retrospecto fora de casa no Brasileirão. Até o momento, foram sete jogos, com três vitórias, dois empates e duas derrotas, tendo a sexta melhor campanha. Luís Castro tentará manter esses números para vencer o Massa Bruta e reconquistar a confiança do grupo para a sequência da temporada.
It was after Kerr shone with a couple of wickets, meaning Webster’s all-round efforts were in vain
Tristan Lavalette26-Dec-2022
Moises Henriques propelled Sydney Sixers’ chase•Getty Images
Sydney Sixers 151 for 3 (Henriques 52*, Zampa 1-21) beat Melbourne Stars 150 for 5 (Webster 78, Kerr 2-26) by seven wicketsSkipper Moises Henriques emerged from a form slump as Sydney Sixers continued their stranglehold over Melbourne Stars with a seven-wicket win at the SCG.On a surface with inconsistent bounce and pace, Sixers’ chase of 151 was not easy but Henriques wound back the clock to steer the home side to victory with five balls to spare.It was their eighth straight win over Stars, who have slumped to a 1-3 record this season.Henriques returns to form Sixers’ slow start to the season has been mostly due to their misfiring batting order. Kurtis Patterson and James Vince were keen to make amends with promising starts but they fell in quick succession to leave Sixers shakily placed at 3 for 63 at the midway point.For years, Henriques has been a fulcrum for powerhouse Sixers but he entered the match with consecutive golden ducks. In a relief, he scored off his first delivery as his trademark composure returned to anchor Sixers’ chase.There were periods where he was shackled, especially by legspinner Adam Zampa, but Henriques kept his cool alongside Jordan Silk, who had also made a duck in the last match against Hobart Hurricanes.Henriques accelerated in the back end and notched his half-century with a six in the penultimate over to effectively ice the game. It was the first half-century this season by a Sixers batter.Stars rue sloppy fielding There was a lot of intrigue over how Stars’ attack would respond after conceding the third-highest BBL total in their big defeat against Perth Scorchers.Coach David Hussey was scathing of his team’s attitude and with his criticisms ringing in their ears, Stars’ attack produced a much better effort but it wasn’t enough. The bowlers weren’t helped by sloppy fielding and will particularly rue a missed slumping by Joe Clarke off Zampa to reprieve Henriques in the 15th over.Zampa and seamer Luke Wood tried their best with miserly bowling but lacked support in a Stars attack without quick Nathan Coulter-Nile.O’Keefe battles through hamstring injury Left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe’s penchant for the SCG continued after playing a key role in Sixers’ tight win over Hurricanes last week to break their duck this season. Against Stars, the 38-year-old showed why he’s relied upon to open the bowling with the wicket of Tom Rogers second ball.But disaster struck when O’Keefe later in the over clutched at his right hamstring and had to go off the field for treatment. He made a quick return but was clearly hampered, trudging around in the field.Beau Webster picked up a wicket after his BBL-best effort with the bat•Getty Images
Fortunately, the discomfort didn’t affect his bowling with O’Keefe returning into the attack in the sixth over and continued his nagging length to frustrate big-hitters Clarke and Beau Webster, who could only muster four singles off the over. Quite clearly needing more medical attention, O’Keefe had to get through his remaining overs quickly and he didn’t disappoint to finish with 1 for 16 off four overs.O’Keefe mustered all his experience to bowl accurately amid obvious pain and he clearly remains a pivotal part of Sixers’ attack. They will sweat over the severity of his hamstring injury.Webster anchors shorthanded StarsStars suffered a major blow with Marcus Stoinis rested for the clash to further weaken a batting order already without Glenn Maxwell and Joe Burns to long-term injuriesAfter being sent in, Stars were in big trouble at 2 for 8 and they needed Clarke to fire with the ‘keeper-batter the only player to have hit a century this season.He looked the goods when he smashed wayward seamer Sean Abbott for two sixes in the third over before falling for 27.It was left to Webster, who had threatened this season for a big score without capitalising. On this occasion, he was up to the task with a mature knock to dig Stars out of trouble.Webster initially mostly played along the ground before launching a huge six over square leg off seamer Hayden Kerr to hit the roof.With his confidence rising, Webster made his move in the 17th and 18th overs as Stars scored 24 runs during the power surge.In his 47th BBL innings, Webster went past 1000 career runs and along the way notched his career best score of 78 off 51 balls to power Stars to a competitive total but it ultimately wasn’t enough.